FHI re-confirm legal position surrounding French carp imports

Some in the coarse fishing community in England and Wales are still not entirely sure about the legal position surrounding the importation of French carp. 

Stuart Katon, the Fish Health Inspectorate’s (FHI) Enforcement and Investigations Officer, said: “Perhaps surprisingly given our recent statement regarding this issue I have again been contacted by respected representatives from the coarse fishing community who are still not entirely clear about the current legal position regarding fish imports. 

“To avoid any further confusion I can verify on behalf of the Fish Health Inspectorate that we will not under any circumstances authorise the movement of fish from France into Great Britain.” 

Recent media reports about the proposed importation of record-sized carp from a source in France to a fishery in England prompted the FHI – based at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas) – to issue a news release and related information about carp importation rules. This can be seen at www.cefas.co.uk/news-and-events/news-releases/news-releases-2009/french-carp-the-facts.aspx. 

The FHI have now identified all the individuals involved in the proposed importation, which was the subject of news coverage in the angling press. These people have since been visited and advised by senior Inspectors from the FHI. 

Inspectors advised the fishery owner that, at present, it is illegal to import carp from France, irrespective of what any French supplier or potential UK importer may claim. 

Stuart Katon can be contacted on 01305 206811, or the FHI can be reached at 01305 206700. All enquiries and any information supplied will be dealt with in strict confidence.

Notes to editors

1. Cefas is an internationally renowned scientific research and advisory establishment and the UK’s largest and most diverse applied marine science organisation. It has over 500 staff, two UK laboratories (in Lowestoft and Weymouth), its own ocean-going research vessel, and over 100 years of experience. Operating as an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Cefas works alongside government and other agencies, both in the UK and internationally, to play a vital role in securing healthy marine and freshwater environments for everyone’s well-being, health and prosperity.  
2. Bridging the interface between science, policy and delivery, Cefas provides evidence-based scientific advice, manages related data and information, conducts world-class scientific research, and facilitates collaborative action through wide-ranging relationships. Those relationships span the EU, government and its agencies, international fora, scientific institutions and research centres, universities, NGOs and industry. For more detail about its range of activities visit www.cefas.co.uk.
3. The Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI), based at Cefas’ Weymouth laboratory, is dedicated to maintaining and improving fish and shellfish health in England and Wales. Its primary role is to act for Defra and the National Assembly for Wales, Agriculture Department (NAWAD) in undertaking statutory and inspection duties resulting from the EU Fish Health regime and other national legislation in the area of fish and shellfish health.
4. The Inspectorate is responsible for health certification of fish and shellfish movements from other countries, and runs an enforcement programme aimed at preventing the illegal importation of these animals. It also has responsibility for licensing of non-native crayfish and the enforcement of that keeping legislation. For more about movement controls and enforcement visit www.cefas.co.uk/fhi/movements.htm.   

Press contact: 
Anne McClarnon: Telephone: 01502 524370 / Email: anne.mcclarnon@cefas.co.uk